Meet Ryer Flaker | OWNER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryer Flaker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryer, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Before starting my business I had been the creative director for a large church for over 15 years and like so many people during 2020 I felt disillusioned with my current work. The lockdown really opened my eyes to what I was doing and how I was doing it and I wanted the freedom to work from home and for myself.

So summer of 2020 my wife and I went away to think about our future and while away, I had this overwhelming feeling to take a risk, go out on my own and start a creative agency. While we were away we found out that my mother had slipped into a coma and unexpectantly passed away, she was only 60; this was not only devastating but felt like a push to live a life without regret. The name of my company is JerseyMade and is a tribute to my Jersey-made mom and the attitude she instilled in me- no-nonsense, to the point and honest, in other words, no BS.

I use this sentiment as a true north statement in finding the right clients, proposing work, and guiding clients in the best direction for them, not us.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My success was born out of failure. I grew up wanting to be a touring musician, and when I was 20 I moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music and promptly figured out how good everyone else was. So out of that failure, I decided I needed another creative avenue and started to teach myself graphic design, then video, motion, and web design.

In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to design for all sorts of different clients, like non-profits, surf brands, theme parks and recently help brand a college. I think it’s my ADHD, but I love being a multi-hyphenate creative. Whether it’s branding, video, website or strategy, I love that I get to be creative in all these different ways.

Some advice for young creatives: make lists, lists are great they help you stay focused and crossing items off your list is very satisfying. You can utilize some modern ways of making lists using software like Click-Up, which is my favorite. Also, take breaks, no one should be staring at a screen 11 hours a day, go for a walk, a hike, go out and find inspiration outside of a screen.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m really into our theme parks, Disneyland, SeaWorld, the zoo. From a creative perspective, they offer so much inspiration and how to take creativity to the next level. After that, we are eating and drinking our way through San Diego. We have some of the best breweries in the country, Harlan, Modern Times, Ballast Point to name a few. And some of my favorite eateries are in North County, Fish 101, Board and Bew, and Burger Bench in Escondido.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had some incredible mentors along the way that saw potential and pushed me to be the person I am today. The greatest example is my former boss Gary Webb. He helped mold me into the creative leader I am by instilling in me that family comes before everything else and if your home life is a mess your work life will fall apart too.

Website: jerseymadecreative.com

Instagram: @jerseymadecreative

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ryerflaker/

Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCWvPQqQFU6UHGFAiBCa0W5A